Phipps, normally the Pirates’ quarterback, split time under center with star running back DeAndre Thompkins. While Thompkins finished with 236 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns on 19 carries, Phipps was a difference for Swansboro, Laspada said.

Phipps rushed for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns. His first touchdown came on a pitch from Thompkins.

“Chris actually played wing back,” Laspada said. “He gave us more options because he runs the ball so hard. He did well tonight.”

In fact, both Phipps and Thompkins did a good job sharing the quarterback responsibilities, Laspada said.

“They went back-and-forth,” the coach said. “I don’t think it confused them (Blue Devils), we just executed better. They knew what we were doing, we just executed our blocks and ran hard.”

It doesn’t hurt Thompkins having the speed and power he has. Thompkins received a scholarship offer from N.C. State on Friday.

“DeAndre was able to break the long run,” Laspada said.

With the win, Swansboro improved to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in the ECC entering next week’s game at East Duplin. The Pirates has lost its last four games.

“It feels good,” Laspada said. “I’m happy for the kids and the coaching staff because we have worked hard.”

South Lenoir 0 0 0 14 — 14

Swansboro 7 14 7 6 — 34

First Quarter

S — Phipps 35 run (Lemasters kick)

Second Quarter

S — Thompkins 80 run (Lemasters kick)

S — Harrington 20 run (Lemasters kick)

Third Quarter

S — Phipps 65 run (Lemasters kick)

Fourth Quarter

S — Thompkins 80 run (kick failed)

SL — 15 run (kick failed)

SL — 10 run (run good)

SL S

First downs 10 9

Rushes-yards 49-221 37-420

Passing 4 25

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Fumbles-Lost 0-0 3-0

Penalties-Yards 10-49 8-66

Punts NA 2-30.5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—S: Thompkins 19-236, Phipps 12-142, Harrington 4-20. SL: NA.

PASSING—S: Phipps 1-5-0-25. SL: NA.

RECEIVING—S: Wakefield 1-25. SL: NA.

South Central 28, White Oak 6: White Oak’s winless woes continued as the Vikings fell to South Central in a Coastal 3-A Conference game, although first-year coach Chad Ashley’s team may have picked up a victory as well this week.

White Oak is 0-8 and 0-5 in the league, but D.H. Conley must forfeit three games, including its 63-7 win over the Vikings on Sept. 28, because of an ineligible player. D.H. Conley is appealing the decision by the N.C. High School Athletic Association.

With the win, South Central is now 3-6 and 2-3.

“It always feels good to get a win,” said South Central head coach Tim Carter. “Like always, you see some spurts, and then some things happen that get you a little frustrated. I don’t think it’s because of our attitude or discipline. It’s just a problem with believing and having confidence.”

Leading 14-6 late in the third quarter, the Falcons answered a long White Oak touchdown run with a big play of their own as kick returner Brandon Boyd returned the ensuing kickoff 82 yards to paydirt to extend the SC lead to 21-6 with 29 seconds remaining in the third period, putting a

potential Viking comeback to rest.

South Central would add on to its lead just a few plays later. After recovering a fumble inside White Oak territory, quarterback Ethan Rogerson found wide out Earnest Johnson on a 31-yard touchdown strike on the first play following the turnover, making it 28-6.

It was the second touchdown pass of the day for Rogerson, who also tossed a 63-yard touchdown pass to Rychard Robertson earlier in the game to put the Falcons on top 14-0 early in the first half.

Running back Steven Moses scored White Oak’s only points on a 57-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He finished the game with 107 rushing yards on 20 carries.

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Topsail 32, Croatan 14: Croatan continued to be plagued by its own mistakes, losing four fumbles and throwing two interceptions as Topsail scored 21 fourth-quarter points to defeat the visiting Cougars.

Croatan (4-4, 2-3 in the East Central 2-A Conference) has now turned the ball over 17 times in its last three games. Topsail is now 5-3 and 3-2.

The Cougars led 14-11 after three quarters on 3-yard touchdown run by Marshall Judon and 22-yard pass from Kyle Hopewell to Mitchell Smith, both coming in the second quarter. But Topsail then exploded in the final 7:54 to rally for the win.

Josh Jessup scored on a 42-yard run to give the Pirates a 18-14 lead with 7:54 left and added a 4-yard scoring run with 1:38 left. In between, Austin Schoenleber hit Devin Williams for a 22-yard touchdown with 6:04 left.